Recent TPPA deal: Another deathly prescription to Asia’s people

By Health Alliance for Democracy
October 12, 2015

QUEZON CITY – Health groups today condemn the recent agreement reached on US-led Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA) stating the free trade deal will cement US ‘pivot to Asia’.

Health Alliance for Democracy or HEAD sees stronger US control over products, including medicines in TPPA member countries. The trade deal, tagged by US representative for trade Michael B. Froman as “an important first step” may very well be “a step that will crush all trade barriers of member states for US domination over 40% of the global market,” said Dr. Joseph Carabeo, secretary general of HEAD.

According to reports, the US trade representative said the pact would eventually end more than 18,000 tariffs that the TPP countries have placed on American exports.

“The US is driven by its goal to defeat China in the global economy by aggressively making American products (and its trade terms) dominate the Asian market which comprises 40% of the global economy,” Dr. Carabeo added.

Even if the Philippines is not party to the agreement yet, current deals to the economic pact signal further price monopoly on products such as medicines. In particular, the patent on “biologics,” or advanced medicines derived from living organisms, was compromised to only a “mandatory minimum of five years.” Meaning, drug makers will be able to withhold data, and consequently control prices, for 5 long years before other manufacturers can produce “biosimilars” at more affordable prices.

“When no cap is set on the maximum number of years a patent can be had, who would opt for the minimum 5 years?” pointed Dr. Carabeo. “At the end of the day,” he said, “it’s business as usual for these pharma giants.”

The US-led economic pact capped its meeting with 11 heads of state in Atlanta, Georgia on October 5, 2015 after years of negotiation.